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Thursday, November 3

My Frugal Miser - October Expenses: $3,323


October was reasonable for personal expenses.  Nearly half of the expenses I reported are non-cash depreciation of my 2015 Hyundai Sonata.  I expense $.24/mile driven until I have completely expensed the cost of the car.  Making deliveries for Amazon puts a lot of miles on my car.

I continued to benefit from the Shell Fuel Rewards cards I purchased on Groupon.  I will most likely burn through the remaining balance in November and then my gas expense will go up.

Food was also on the high side.  Amazon had a fall clearance sale and I stocked up on quite a few things.  We also had a couple of expensive restaurant meals to celebrate my partner's birthday.

October Expenses:  $3,323

$2,060 Auto ($13 gas, $288 repairs/maintenance, $1,412 depreciation, $136 AAA dues, $211 fines)
$0 Bank Fees
$75 Clothing
$0 Computer
$168 Entertainment (movies, gambling, alcohol)
$388 Food
$0 Gifts Given
$0 Household/Housing/Home Repair
$52 Health and Dental Insurance
$0 Investment Expense
$264 Interest Expense*
$0 Medical/Dental
$0 Miscellaneous
$3 Personal Care
$13 Subscriptions
$0 Taxes
$135 Sharing Economy Expenses (dedicated phone, tolls, car washes, etc.)
$167 Utilities
$0 Vacation

*Interest expense includes student loans and the loan on my car.  As both rates are below 2%, I am completely comfortable paying the interest each month and investing the money that I would otherwise use to pay off these loans.  In October, I paid $194 to E*Trade for "hard to borrow" interest on a short sale of Sears Holdings stock. 

Tuesday, November 1

My Frugal Miser - October Income: $10,077


October was another stellar month, even though rental income is down.

I earned a significant amount from making deliveries for Amazon.  I average close to $30/hour (gross, before expenses) and my goal is to work 40 hours per week.  I added Postmates to my sharing economy portfolio.  In October I received payment for my first two jobs.  Postmates pays very little unless the customer gives you a tip.

Rental income is still down, as one property is vacant.  I lowered the asking rent on that property so hopefully this will generate some interest.  I managed to rent the condo already, so it was vacant less than one month.

October Income $10,077

($11) Mystery Shopping and Hospitality Jobs
$104 Uber
$25 Lyft
$7 Postmates
$4,796 Amazon Deliveries
$4,868 Rental Income
$263 Dividends and Interest (Investment Accounts)
$0 Realized Gains (Losses) on Investments
$24 Other Sources

Notes:  
  • I don't include transactions in my retirement accounts.  This includes rental income, dividends and capital gains and losses.
  • I include merchandising and hospitality work in the mystery shopping category since the companies that I shop for provide this extra side work.